Answered by:

Deactivate Windows 7 MAK license on retired computer

Question

We have a some computers that are being retired. We are wiping the hard drives, and have reached the MAK activation limit for the Windows 7 license that were used for the installs. Is there a way to deactivate before we wipe the machine so
that we have our licenses freed up?

Answers

The best documentation that I could find was a 2008 universal license terms document
here. On page 27 of 92 it states that the MAK license used by the KMS will automatically activate for each use until rejected. (search the DOC using
MAK, to find it)

If the activation process deactivates a license it is a problem, requiring the purchase of new license. So, it would seem that you won't know until you redeploy a license from the retired computers.

The best documentation that I could find was a 2008 universal license terms document
here. On page 27 of 92 it states that the MAK license used by the KMS will automatically activate for each use until rejected. (search the DOC using
MAK, to find it)

If the activation process deactivates a license it is a problem, requiring the purchase of new license. So, it would seem that you won't know until you redeploy a license from the retired computers.

Microsoft is conducting an online survey to understand your opinion of the Technet Web site. If you choose to participate, the online survey will be presented to you when you leave the Technet Web site.